4 Days til Due Date

[Cali]

Hi all!
My first litter is due the 12th and I just want to make sure I'm prepared. I was planning on putting the nesting box in with Scarlett tomorrow as I did not breed her, she was bred when I bought her and I just want to make sure its in there in case the guy got his dates wrong. I do think she's bred, when she lays out flat her belly is much bigger than it was when she first came home but I haven't gotten the hang of palpating for babies.

I have been saving dryer lint in case she doesn't pull enough fur (she is a first time mom).

I was planning on putting some shavings in the bottom of the nest box, but I wasn't sure what type of hay to provide her with as well. I feed alfalfa right now and don't have anything else on hand but I thought I could maybe just buy one of those small bags of timothy hay from the pet store or feed store.

What all should I have on hand to be as prepared as possible? I am really hoping this litter makes it! She is bred to an outside buck so I'd love to keep a couple of her babies to widen the genetic diversity available to me.

I've read conflicting things on handling babies, but on this forum people seem to handle them quite frequently. I would love to handle them so I can make sure they're doing well and so that they are very tame as they grow. Other forums I've seen recommend putting vanilla extract on the mother's nose so she doesn't smell me on the babies, is that actually necessary?

 

[skysthelimit]

I've never had a problem and I know I must smell like dog, and dogs are in the barn all the time.
The buns actually let the dogs lick them. I've taken them out of the nest in front of the doe, handled the and put them back. All the while the doe is vying for my attention.

 

[AnnClaire]

Hi Cali,

Sounds like you have everything well in hand. One thing that you might also want to consider for your kindling kit is a bottle of fruity tums ... you can offer one the day before her due date. It will provide a boost of calcium for kindling stress.

Other than that, be sure to have the camera ready when you pull the nest box to check all the placentas are removed, all kits are fully formed and developed properly. I like to do this when I find the kits ... I generally keep a pretty good eye on the does I just take the whole nest box out of the cage and bring it inside where it is warm and I have good light. I lift the kits out into a small basket (with tall sides) with a clean soft wash cloth in the bottom. This way, I can also get a look at how active they are. When you pick them up they should lift their nose in the air and maybe even squeak for you :lol:

Put them back into the nest, tucking the hair over the top of them and return to the proud mamma with a nice treat for a job well done.

Now, you can do this EVERY DAY if you want! :cheesysmile:

 

[Bad Habit]

AnnClaire seems to have it all covered, lol. But welcome to rabbit talk!!

I don't put shavings in the bottom of my nest box, I just put in a nice bottom of hay, and let the doe do her thing! I also give her big fat handfuls whenever she looks like she has gathered up all that she has, as I love watching them nest. They've just got so much purpose!!

I handle my babies from the first moment I can. I've handled some that were basically still wet from being cleaned, and my does have not abandoned their babies. I sell as pets, and want to ensure that the rabbits are very used to being handled, which is part of the reason I handle so young. I actually got a litter of babies given to me(with their mumma) that were a week old before they were handled. They are now 6wks old, and are still not as easy to handle or as social as the babies I bred here that were handled from day one. I also have a dog, who loves his bunnies more than anything else. He's cuddled up with babies who got pulled out of the nest and ended up on the floor, and the does haven't had a problem with the smell. I don't do anything special, just put em back into the nest box. The doe knows me and my smell, and knows the dog's smell. I've also had complete strangers handle the babies, and again the mumma had no issue with them.

Hopefully all goes well. Remember that photos are the main currency here, so take lots of pictures!! Everyone will love you more if you do LOL.

 

[Cali]

Thank you! The camera is ready! Now to wait. I'm trying very hard to be patient, lol. I have a bottle of fruity tums on hand, I will be sure to give her one!

 

[3mina]

Since you're in Texas, the cold isn't going to be much of an issue so you can use shavings or not. I like to because they absorb the wetness and keep the box drier.

 

[bunei0426]

For the litter instead of sawdust i use what is called in my area critter litter it is like a soft absorbant used for hamsters and that stuff. I would also not use alfalfa hay due to how rough it is go to the pet store and get something softer like you mentioned timothy hay. If the animal is outside it does need some more fur than if it is inside but instead of lint (which is a great idea) I would jusr pull some fur from her dewlap or around her nipples because hen she is pregnant her fur is easier to pull because in the wild she doesnt have people saving lint and that sort. If you can also for later litters save some of her fur. If you are in texas I would assume it isn't really cold down there so you dont have to give a lot of stuff to warm the kits but too much never hurt any bunny (just make sure they won's suffocate!!) Hope this helped

 

[ZRabbits]

I used the same type of "critter litter" as bunei0426 does. Very absorbent and mixed well with my doe's fur to make a lovely nest. And could actually remove the mixture well when I cleaned the nest box. Also used timothy hay and removed any stalks so no kits could get poked in the eye. Worked well, no nest eye.

Fingers crossed for an easy delivery and lots of healthy kits.

Karen

 

[luvabunny]

Everyone seems to have given some pretty good suggestions, so I'll give you a play-by-play on what to expect on delivery day. Remember, every doe is different and may not do all, but this is based on a decades worth of experience and hundreds of babies and is a generality.

Up to a week before, but normally just a day or two before, Mama will groom and clean herself obsessively. She will then go around the cage and clean it obsessively. She will pick up or move any loose hay, hair, toys, etc, even go so far as to lick her potty spot, provided she pees on the wire into a pan below, to clean the urine off. I always remove any loose toys such as balls, etc at this point. Toys that hang on the cage sides are OK.

Put the nestbox in 3 days before the due date. Don't worry if she digs everything out. Just put it back in, or refill it. Don't put it in her potty corner, and if she pees in it clean it out and put it back. If she pees in it again, move it to another corner. Keep doing this until you find a corner where she won't pee in it. Normally it just takes one move.

I always make sure the nest it the way "I" want it the night before the due date. I put in soft pine shavings (not the huge flakes from TS) with soft hay (I use prairie) on top. I make sure there is a nice hole (tunnel type) to put the babies in. Some Mama's use it this way, some completely redo it, but at least I can go to bed assured it is ready just in case.

My does normally kindle between 3 and 5 am. It is a short process, usually taking less than a half hour for 6-8 kits. Mama will generally make 1 squeak when delivery begins, then not another sound. You will probably see her back fur twitch, and will be able to see obvious pushes. With good luck, she will kindle in the nestbox, clean them well, feed them, cover them with fur and leave them alone. I never disturb Mama while she is birthing unless there is an obvious issue. Kits will squeak while being cleaned, that is a good sign.

Now for the bad. Mama's sometimes get babies stuck they can't deliver. If she comes out of the box with a baby part way out you will have to help. Cover the vent with vaseline and gently pull baby out. If she's still contracting, wait for a contraction. You may have to do it in stages, and recover the vent with vaseline several times. If there's any chance baby is still alive, you will need to clean and warm it. Normally, it's dead. Leave Mama alone to deliver any other kits naturally.

First time Mama's especially sometimes have babies on the wire. If she does, let her do it. Allow her to clean the baby, then take it away from her. If she has made a warm nest with fur, put it in the nest. If she's ignored the nest, put baby somewhere warm until she is done. Be sure any time you reach into a Mama's cage, pet her first and hold her down while you remove the baby. It may keep you from getting bit. When Mama's done, pull fur from her flanks and belly, make your own nest, put the babies in it, and put it with the Mama. With good luck, she will take over from there.

Once babies are delivered and Mama is finished, you can remove the nest and check babies and nest condition. Some Mama's won't eat all the placenta or afterbirth. These should be removed. Any dead babies should be removed. Any overly bloody, wet, or dirty nest should be removed. Some Mama's are overly zealous in cleaning and will remove babies toes, tail, ears, etc. It is up to you what to do with these babies. Most will live, even with a stump for a leg, but will usually be impossible to sell for pets.

Mama will feed the babies once in the morning and once in the evening. I never disturb her during this time, if I happen to catch it. As long as babies are warm and growing she is feeding them. You can remove the box completely at any other time, and handle the babies. If you find a baby out of the nest and it's still moving, put it back in the nest to warm. If it's not moving, warm it to see if it can be saved. Some babies that appear absolutely cold and stiff can be saved and will live.

Hopefully, this gives you an idea of what to expect. Good luck and hope you have lots of babies with tons of color.

 

[Cali]

Thank you for all the info! It got down to 27 degrees last night (was 80 the day before yesterday) but she still hasn't started building a nest or pulling any fur.
luvabunny, thank you for that detailed post! I might just print it out and stick it in the rabbitry.

Her official due date is tomorrow and I'm being very impatient! hehe

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I was planning on putting some shavings in the bottom of the nest box, but I wasn't sure what type of hay to provide her with as well. I feed alfalfa right now and don't have anything else on hand but I thought I could maybe just buy one of those small bags of timothy hay from the pet store or feed store.

Both the bagged timothy and the alfalfa are going to be too stiff for a nest box...If you have a Tractor Supply around, they sell two string bales of coastal grass hay and that will work perfectly...I put a layer of pine bedding under the hay, as it seems to really help with absorbing any urine and keeping it away from the kits. Carefresh bedding also works, as do shavings or pelleted bedding. I would NOT use sawdust at all. But, none of that is necessary, it is just extra. A box stuffed full of grass hay is really all you will need. We were down to about 27 last night as well, and I have a litter of two that I brought in overnight, since I did not think they would stay warm by themselves with it being just the two...

 

[ZRabbits]

Fingers crossed for an easy delivery and healthy popples!

Karen